Bangladesh have fulfilled both conditions laid out by all-rounder Sakib al Hasan to push for a win in the second Test, and are now waiting to achieve the main goal on the fifth and final day today. At the end of third day’s play, when Zimbabwe punished the Tigers to reach 331-5, Sakib sensed a draw like many others, but he did not rule out the chance of a win saying ‘anything is possible in cricket.’
To make it happen, Sakib said that Bangladesh have to take Zimbabwe’s remaining five wickets within one hour and then score some quick runs to give the bowlers enough time to dismiss the visitors in the second innings.
It seems Sakib did not say it just because he had to say something in the post-day briefing, but rather meant it, proving it through his fielding and by spearheading Bangladesh’s attack.
The Tigers bowled Zimbabwe out for 368 runs in the first session, if not in the first one hour, to take a 65-run first innings lead, something which looked a distant possibility overnight.
Sakib’s second condition was about scoring quick runs in the second innings, which Bangladesh did fairly enough, reaching 201-5 at close on the fourth day to stretch their lead to 266.
The score did not look like it was coming at a brisk pace, but those who saw Tigers’ batting in the first innings on a first day track, gave them some credit for showing a remarkable improvement on that.
When they could score just 193-3 on the first day despite a reasonable start, they eked out 201-5 in 64 overs, at 3.14, on a fourth day track.
It also took them to a position from where they can now expect a win easily, as the game has still a full day left.
If they bat for another 15 overs, which they are expected to do, their lead will soar past 300 runs, something that can be handy considering Zimbabwe’s history against spin bowling.
06In that case, the hosts will get about 75 overs to bowl out Zimbabwe on a fifth day wicket, which, unless a dramatic change in character, is expected to help their spin trio of Sakib, Taijul Islam and Jubair Hossain.
Zimbabwe were all out for just 35.5 overs in their second innings in the first Test, and the Tigers were further encouraged by the bowling of Zimbabwe spinner Malcolm Waller on the fourth day of the second Test. Waller grabbed 4-48 and raised the chance of a hat-trick at one stage when he scalped Sakib and Mushfiqur Rahim off consecutive balls to shake up Bangladesh dressing room.
Batsman Mominul Haque, who was also a victim of Waller, indicated his bowling was rather encouraging for Bangladeshi bowlers.
‘We were not worried about his bowling,’ said Mominul. ‘His balls were keeping low some times and at times bouncing as well,’ said Mominul, who made 54 to help the Tigers build their lead.
Mominul thinks they will now push for a win irrespective of how many overs they get to bowl out Zimbabwe.
‘I don’t know when the captain will declare the innings. All I can say is that, in this kind of wicket even scoring 150 runs can be difficult in the fourth innings,’ Mominul declared after spending a fair amount of time in the middle.
-With New Age input
